A Carrollwood high school student creates Arts for Care; a program for individuals with developmental disabilities and neurodivergence
Teenager Anika Iyer Empowers Neurodivergent Individuals Through Art Therapy with Arts for Care.
The Brief:
- Anika Iyer founded the nonprofit organization Arts for Care, an art therapy program for people with neurodivergence and developmental disabilities, at just 17 years old.
- Anika is positively impacting her current participants; parents have seen firsthand the progress their children are making through this art therapy.
- Neurodivergent individuals often have strong visual senses, and art helps them express themselves since they may struggle with speech.
What We Know:
Seventeen-year-old Carrollwood Day School student Anika Iyer founded the nonprofit organization Arts for Care, an art therapy program for people with neurodivergence and developmental disabilities.
Individuals with these cognitive disabilities often have difficulty with speech, making their visual senses stronger. Art therapy helps participants express themselves.
Anika wanted to give these individuals a chance to be heard. She shares, “The thing that I was most unprepared for was really how much these individuals would teach me. When I came in here, they taught me so much—not just about patience and perseverance, but about looking at things from a different perspective and being more mindful of my actions and my words. I started realizing that some of these voices weren’t being heard and that they weren’t given the right outlet to be expressed.”
Parents of the participants have observed the positive impact Anika has on them. Heather Greenhalgh’s daughter, Isla, is part of the program. Heather said, “The art projects she puts together for the kids are really great because no matter what level they’re on, they can participate in them. She’s a really kind, warm, patient girl—you can tell her heart’s in it. It’s been really nice to see her interact with all the kids.”
Arts for Care’s mission is to empower individuals with Down syndrome through art therapy. As stated on its website, “We are dedicated to facilitating personal expression, enhancing social skills, and building self-esteem through creative engagement. By providing tailored artistic experiences, we aim to improve concentration, motor skills, and overall well-being, fostering a supportive community where every participant can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.”
Anika emphasizes, “I, all in all, just have a great time doing this. It’s helped me build a community. And most importantly, I think as humans, we all deserve a sense of purpose—and this is just where I found my sense of purpose.”
For more information about Arts for Care, visit artsforcare.com.
The Backstory:
Anika found her love for helping others through volunteer work at GiGi’s Playhouse, a Down Syndrome Achievement Center.
What’s Next:
Anika plans to study neuroscience in college.
Why You Should Care:
As of 2001, Down syndrome has been the lowest-funded major genetic disorder, even though it is the most recurring chromosomal disorder. This is an underrepresented community, and programs like Arts for Care help individuals grow.
Source:
The information for this story is derived from a WTVT interview and the organization’s website, artsforcare.com.
